Austrian Constitutional Court Reviews State Surveillance Software as Blue Origin Unveils Terawave Satellite Internet
The Austrian Constitutional Court is set to examine the legality of government-mandated surveillance software, a move initiated after opposition parties raised concerns about potential infringements on citizens' fundamental rights. The legislation in question enables law enforcement authorities to covertly install malware on personal devices for surveillance purposes, even without concrete suspicion of criminal activity. Critics argue that this approach may expose sensitive personal data to third parties and could compromise overall digital security by intentionally leaving vulnerabilities unaddressed. The court's decision will determine whether the law aligns with Austria's constitutional protections.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Blue Origin has announced its upcoming Terawave satellite internet project, positioning itself alongside major industry players such as Starlink and Amazon. Terawave will consist of a two-tier satellite constellation: approximately 5,280 satellites will operate in low Earth orbit, complemented by 128 satellites in a medium orbit. The network is expected to deliver symmetrical bandwidth with a total capacity of up to six terabits per second. However, Terawave is specifically designed for enterprise-scale clients, data centers, and public sector organizations rather than private consumers. The company plans to deploy the first satellites by the end of 2027, with the system primarily targeting point-to-point data connections and high-bandwidth internet in remote or less densely populated regions.
Elsewhere in the technology sector, Meta Platforms has revealed plans to roll out advertising globally on its social media platform Threads. After initial limited testing, advertisements will now appear in the feeds of all users worldwide. The network has surpassed 400 million monthly active users, with Meta aiming to increase revenue through the wider introduction of advertising. This move comes despite earlier assertions that the platform would remain ad-free until reaching one billion users.
In Germany, the development of a central health data repository at Berlin's Charité university hospital has been temporarily halted following criticism from the city's data protection officer. The planned database would have stored anonymized health records, but concerns were raised about unclear regulatory language and insufficient safeguards regarding data anonymization. Legislative amendments will be postponed while authorities revise the proposal to address these issues.
Additional developments include a study from Alaska indicating that electric vehicles outperform diesel-powered cars in extremely cold conditions, and changes to Disney+ streaming services in Germany, where certain premium video features have been suspended due to an ongoing patent dispute. Microsoft has also adjusted its schedule for the introduction of automatic attendance tracking via its Teams platform, while new details have emerged regarding the hardware of the upcoming iPhone 18 series.
In the space sector, the James Webb Space Telescope has revealed previously unseen features within the Helix Nebula, providing astronomers with new insights. In the European technology landscape, discussions continue regarding the significant investment required to expand digital infrastructure, with a reported shortfall of 174 billion euros. Policymakers are considering the balance between public funding and the involvement of private investors as the digitalization of services and networks accelerates.
These developments reflect ongoing debates about digital privacy, technological innovation, and the challenges associated with securing and expanding critical infrastructure in an increasingly interconnected world.